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New Jersey Senate approves bill to bolster gambling addiction awareness
A new bill requires public colleges and universities to offer gambling addiction awareness and prevention programs as the NJ online casino industry continues to thrive.
Higher education in New Jersey will now be required to take proactive steps toward addressing responsible gaming and problem gambling, thanks to a bill that was unanimously approved by the state Senate.
Under Assembly Bill A1715, public institutions in the Garden State will have to offer compulsive gambling support as well as provide information and resources regarding responsible gambling.
What latest New Jersey bill requires of public institutions
After A1715 passed the Assembly by a whopping 77-0 vote in March, the state Senate followed up with a unanimous 38-0 vote of its own this month to push the legislation onto the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy for his signature and final approval.
The bill aims to bolster gambling awareness with legal NJ online casinos and sportsbooks – particularly on the campuses of state colleges, universities and community colleges.
There are certain requirements mandated by the bill. For starters, each campus must invite and offer the presence of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey to pass along information and resources on the risks of and counseling services for compulsive gambling, as well as self-exclusion options.
In addition, public institutions must make educational materials available promoting responsible gambling while also supplying contact information for helplines and other support services for individuals who may be coping with problem gambling.
Lawmakers continue to address potential ramifications of NJ online casinos
The Assembly bill, primarily sponsored by Assemblywoman Garnet Hall, is another example of state legislators introducing bills in an attempt to curb possible byproducts of legal sportsbooks and casino apps in New Jersey – especially as it relates to students facing advertising and marketing by those operators.
For years, state lawmakers have argued that as the NJ online gambling landscape expands, it puts young adults at a heightened risk of developing unhealthy gambling habits.
By requiring campuses to offer expert resources to their student bodies, the hope is that raising responsible gambling awareness will curtail potential increases in problem gambling.
Once signed into law, the bill would go into effect immediately, meaning those public institutions will need to begin planning how to abide by the new law and integrate gambling awareness resources on their campuses.
